Hi GuysI was quick out of the blocks on the Petrus. I've developed a thing for Australian made frames... The good news (for me) is that there's definitely no bend in the top tube. I did look pretty closely, as how you break a crank (a very nice campy crank too) without trashing the bike, I have no idea. The bike has some other nice campy parts (not too worn out, but I need to clean them up to be positive) and is very light......which is where the problems start. The issues are a few localised but serious spots of rust, both in the frame and on the forks. The tubing is so thin there cannot be much steel left under those spots - so I will have a really good look on the weekend to see how bad it is. Coming into xmas I will not be moving fast at all, and depending on the damage I find it may wind up a pretty long term project. The Petrus bikes (from what little I have been able to find) are no too common at all - so I will put it back as close to original as I can. This is assuming that the frame is not rusted through anywhere at all. I think the forks are OK, but they will need to be re-chromed. In any case - as you guys pointed out - it was perhaps not a "steal" - but I think it was definitely worth a punt. And it's a piece of Australian cycling history built (I think) by Peter Brotherton - but mid to late 80s, not 60s!....Cheersdv

dv wrote:<snip>, as how you break a crank (a very nice campy crank too) without trashing the bike, I have no idea. <snip>Cheersdv

I haven't seen the pictures but I'm assuming the crank snapped at the pedal hole? Campag had a whole batch of these back in the late 70's early 80's that had a problem with the crank snapping at the pedal hole under load. Not just hunky racers either, normal people managed to break them. As you say depending on what you were doing at the time a bent top tube was often the result along with various bodily injuries (but not always thankfully) . They wiggled out of a recall (in Europe at least) so the dodgy batch slowly carried on breaking over many years depending on use.Something to do with the alloy composition being wrong and post forge working causing micro-cracks was the excuse if IRRC.CheersRichard

And it's just been taken down, did you grab it Sambo? Pics told nothing but it's a pretty niche mark, not like all the numptys trying to flip fakenagos.

dv wrote:Hi GuysI was quick out of the blocks on the Petrus. I've developed a thing for Australian made frames...

Good luck with it, keen to see some decent detail pics of it's current state, start up a resto thread so we can follow the progress.

Yep good grab with the Petrus, I was second in line there for that, be great to see some quality pics when you get to restoring it.Again Cray I was second through for the Kenevans. Hope someone here nabbed that as well.

Looks like I will be forever the bridesmaid when in comes to quality finds on Gumtree ; )

dv wrote:<snip>, as how you break a crank (a very nice campy crank too) without trashing the bike, I have no idea. <snip>Cheersdv

I haven't seen the pictures but I'm assuming the crank snapped at the pedal hole? Campag had a whole batch of these back in the late 70's early 80's that had a problem with the crank snapping at the pedal hole under load.CheersRichard

Thanks RichardIt snapped a fair way below the pedal hole, but it still sounds like a possibility. I'm no expert, but judging from the break there may have been a casting defect.

sambo wrote:Again Cray I was second through for the Kenevans. Hope someone here nabbed that as well.

Picked up the Kenevans this morning. No 50th anniversary anything but rather a mix of mid 80s Campag bits 'n pieces. Think this was a result of miscommunication rather than misrepresentation. Background is the frame was (allegedly) custom made by Ken Evans for the sellers father back when he was competing internationally. Only have a quarter of the story and will talk to the original owner to fill in the rest.

Nice frame though. Reynolds 753. Needs some work - lots of rust speckles in the paint. Been hanging up for too long. A bit of history and importantly my size so figured I'd give it a go. Not such a massive bargain but fair for what it is.

Who is online

About the Australian Cycling Forums

The largest cycling discussion forum in Australia for all things bike; from new riders to seasoned bike nuts, the Australian Cycling Forums are a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.